Tamaqua residents air concerns over rundown properties

Blighted properties and slumlords once again occupied a great deal of Tamaqua Borough Council’s time during their regular monthly meeting.

Jeffrey Derr, a resident of Pine Street, alerted council to a property in his neighborhood where he says the “scumlord” trucks in garbage from other properties and piles it up on the porch and sidewalk. Additionally, tenants in the building are forced to put their own garbage in the rear of the property, where it is accumulating.

Derr said that he has video and pictures of the activity.

“My wife and I have strongly considered leaving this town,” said Derr, who also referred to his neighborhood as “the old country, where we all get together in the backyard.”

He added that Hope and Coffee and the Tamaqua Community Art Center have been welcome additions to the neighborhood, but the one property in question could threaten all of the good things that have gone on in the area. Derr said his family has owned his home since the 1860s, but recent events have led him to consider abandoning the property.

Councilwoman Mary Linkevich said that the matters were all code enforcement issues and should be referred to the code enforcement officer. It was also noted that storing garbage in the manner Derr described is a violation of the quality of life ordinance, and the situation could be ticketed by police or code enforcement daily, until the problem is resolved. Council said that they will refer the matter to Code Enforcement.

Robynne Cadwallader questioned the progress of the installation of handicap ramps on the corners of Spruce Street. Cadwallader has an elevator installed on her property, which allows her and three other residents access to their home. Cadwallader, who is disabled, said that she has been told by workers that where her elevator sits is where they will need to make cuts for the sidewalk and driveway.

“I’m very upset,” she said, “I really want those ramps, but I can’t get a straight answer.”

Cadwallader said that at the time that the initial planning for the project was done and the easements were granted, the elevator was not installed, and she had planned to install it on the other side of the property. However, when it was time to install it, that turned out to not be possible. Cadwallader, who has made other significant improvements to the property, is concerned about losing accessibility to her home for her and other residents of the home, and the possibility of the elevator destabilizing due to the construction.

Council President David Mace said that he had conversations with the project manager, but since the project is not a borough-managed project, the borough is limited as to what it can do. He suggested continuing to meet and work with the project manager to find an acceptable alternative.

Council also voted to approve a task order not to exceed $1,000 for the borough’s engineering firm to provide a cost estimate for the proposed platform suggested by two business owners at last month’s meeting. Mace said that borough officials had met with the railroad and had gotten some preliminary drawings and cost estimates, but felt that they were a little high.

Councilman Ron Bowman did caution council that the project could be “more than meets the eye.”